Defence ministry investigates claims of information leak on appointments

KUALA LUMPUR: The Defence Ministry will conduct an investigation into claims that confidential documents on the appointment and promotion of senior military staff were leaked out, as was reported in the media recently.
Minister, Mohamad Sabu said the investigation would be conducted by the Provost Marshall, Staff Services Department in the Malaysian Armed Forces Base.
He said if the allegations were proven true, appropriate action would be taken in accordance with the law.
"The Defence Ministry views seriously the claim that there was a leak of confidential documents on the appointment and promotion of senior military staff as published by the media," he said in a statement here today.
Mohamad, who is also Armed Forces Council (MAT) chairman, said he had given an assurance that decisions made in every meeting would be confidential.
"I understand that confidentiality has been practised ever since the MAT was formed. The ministry will not compromise on any leak of confidential information," he said.
Yesterday, National Patriot Association (Patriot) president, Brig-Gen (Rtd) Datuk Mohamed Arshad Raji urged the ministry to investigate the leak of confidential documents on the appointment of senior military officers, as reported in the newspapers.
Mohamed Arshad said the leak which had also stated the possibility of the appointment of former Army chief, Gen Tan Sri Zulkifli Zainal Abidin as the new Armed Forces Chief, was in contravention of the council's confidentiality. — Bernama